ACT Brumbies and Wallabies winger Henry Speight is happy to lose his iconic afro hairstyle, especially to help keep up the fight against the disease that took his mum when he was only a boy.
Speight's mother Adi Litia Iloilo died of cancer in Fiji when he was eight years old.
Speight who is a former Queen Victoria School student also visited Fiji two years ago to join a charitable walk with 15 children to raise money for cancer treatment.
He said only half are still alive.
So while Speight will fly out with a full head of hair on his first Wallabies Tour of Europe today, he plans to return and shave his head on December 5th in a bid to raise $10,000 for Fiji's Walk On Walk Strong Foundation which is raising money for and awareness of childhood cancer.
Henry told Sydney Morning Herald that he knows how iconic the fro has become, but it is a noble cause to shave it off for these kids who are going through a tough time in Fiji.
Henry said his mother passed on in her very early 40s and he was eight then.
He said it's always been something that's close to his heart.
Meanwhile, Speight admits he was nervous ahead of selection for the Wallabies Spring Tour, given former coach Ewen McKenzie resigned and Michael Cheika was appointed in his place.
Speight has played only 60 minutes of rugby since the Super Rugby semi‑final in July due to a lingering hamstring injury.
But after years of fighting for his Australian eligibility, Speight has finally got his call‑up to represent the Wallabies.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
